We were shocked this week when we read that an American newspaper has taken the decision to get rid of its entire photography team and replace them with…iPhones!

According to a variety of sources, newspaper the Chicago Sun-Times has released 28 staff members and is planning to make use of existing editorial employees by training them to use iPhones for photography. A statement made by the paper noted that the move was part of a broader shift, helping it focus more on video and digital multimedia. Seems sensible in a way. Evolving with the times some might say.  Newspapers often ask citizens to capture photos on their mobile phones and send them in to run alongside stories. This makes it feasible right? That’s one side of the argument.

Others might say that trained photojournalists have an eye for the right picture, know how to react in difficult situations – skills built up over a number of years which will be lost through this move.

What do you think? Can, or even will, Smartphones ever be able to replace professional photographers when it comes to photojournalism?